As an alumna and former Associated Students president at San Jose State University, I am appalled -- but not the least bit surprised -- that the academic senate has recommended a sharp reduction in athletics funding, particularly for the football program.

Why am I not surprised? San Jose State faculty members have never favored the funding of a football team -- or a thriving athletic program. I recall this same debate occurring when I was a student there.

Faculty members must remember that they do not operate in a vacuum. A university is made up of many constituencies, including students, alumni, staff, administrators, community members and the faculty. University leaders must take into consideration how their actions will affect others.

As a graduate student at CSU-Sacramento -- a university much like San Jose State, although with a football program that is much younger -- I observed a similar debate about athletics that its new president, Alexander Gonzalez, walked into almost a year ago. The university was deliberating whether the football team should advance to Division 1-A status and whether the university should spend money on a new arena or stadium.

The university's budget constraints and increasing student fees were at the forefront of the concerns. President Gonzalez's solution was to form a task force of students, alumni, staff, administrators, community members and faculty. (To its credit, the academic senate at San Jose State has also called for a task force on athletics.).

The charge of the task force at CSU-Sacramento was to:

• Conduct an assessment of the current athletics program and its potential for success in the future.

• Identify the critical issues and needs that must be addressed to ensure the future growth and success of the athletics program.

• Study the beneficial effects that a successful Division I athletics program could have on the university and the Sacramento community.

• Make recommendations to the president regarding the future direction of the athletics program.

Members of the campus community and the greater Sacramento region were asked for their views. The task force conducted two public forums. More than 200 individuals attended the forums with approximately 70 participants representing students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, student athletes, coaches and community members providing oral comments.

The task force report included 10 specific recommendations, including the improvement of facilities. (In a campus-wide election last month, students voted in favor of increasing their fees to fund a campus wellness, recreation and event center, which may begin construction as soon as 2007.) Other recommendations included re-evaluating the university's conference affiliation; requiring the director of athletics to report directly to the president; and forming a committee, including community members, to study the university's public relations. The task force emphasized the role of the public in helping improve athletics, and that a successful athletics program enhances the campus community.

The recommendations are now part of the campus master plan. In addition, the president has endorsed the multi-use center and pledged to raise $25 million toward its construction.

This is how important university decisions should be made. I also urge new San Jose State President Paul Yu to start building his bridges with the campus community by initiating a similar athletics task force. A 110-year old program and all of its supporters over the past century deserve it.

HEATHER MCGOWAN, a 2000 graduate of San Jose State University, is a graduate student in the Higher Education Leadership Program at CSU-Sacramento. She wrote this for the Mercury News. The CSU-Sacramento Athletics Task Force Report can be found at www.csus.edu/president/athletictaskforce.htm